Perm. Sec. Arraigned, Remanded for N2.5m Fraud

A Permanent Secretary in the Katsina State Civil Service was Tuesday arraigned for a N2.5m fertiliser contract scam.
He was remanded in prison custody pending ruling on his bail application.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the accused, Malam Sule Saulawa, allegedly committed the offence while serving in the office of the State Deputy Governor.
Saulawa, who is arraigned before Justice Sanusi Tukur of the Katsina High Court on a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, was said to have fraudulently obtained the said money.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Counsel to the EFCC, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, told the court that the accused perpetrated the crime through a fertiliser contract scam while attached to the Deputy Governor’s office.
He was said to have obtained the N2.5m from an unidentified complainant under the pretext that it was required for bidding documents that would enable the office to award the contract to the complainant.
Following Saulawa’s plea, the prosecution counsel asked the court for a trial date in addition to the accused person’s remand in prison custody.
However, the defense counsel, Bashir Mohammed, prayed the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.
Hanafi opposed the application on the grounds that the accused person would likely jump bail having violated the terms of an administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
Justice Tukur remanded the accused person in prison custody and adjourned the matter to January 6, for ruling on the bail application and commencement of trial.